We are finally going to see the thing that has been making all that noise for days; still shudder at the thought of that lost Indian family blindly following this noise... and the Long Gully Bridge! There's certainly a bit of up and down today, the Guidebook describing it as "a degree of challenge" :)

Day 16 Google Earth Track

Dookanelly Possum Springs

Sandi wrote:

The Young (early 20s) American (Andre) arrived last night after 53km hike. He was pretty done in. P helped him with a fire which after all the rain was tough to light.

The night had looked like it was clearing so we'd discussed the FUSE and charging the camera etc., but waking at 5am there was a great down pour and the rain continued with very little relenting and I was so struck by how we make our plans but they can be way off. We stayed in bed until about 6:45am, quite a sleep in for us, though delightfully cosy. First time we've shared a hut for sleeping with anyone, but that turned out to be pretty painless.

Perry wrote:

Woke in the morning to a heavy down pour: made us sleep in. Finally got away at 8:45am during a dry spell; but it didn't take long for the rain to come back. Ended up walking through showers, rain and overcast until morning tea / lunch: therefore not many photos as camera safe in clip-lock.

Sandi wrote:

What a day, tough walking: lots of up and down and quite steep in first part. A gorgeous red breasted robin close to the track cheered us in 1st 2 hours with tough hills and showers that persisted. Managed to have a fairly dry morning tea, most welcome.

Rain eased up and we zipped along quite nicely. Enjoyed the walking, legs mostly OK until last part. On high points got phone reception, so sent off an "We're OK" to R&T and a "Happy Birthday" to Briony for tomorrow. So happy to get that away.

The 'private property' is a plantation, but today the 'attractive views' were pretty misted out.

Sandi wrote:

Almost missed a turn off on the track, thankfully P saw it, I was too busy watching where I was putting my feet as it was quite steep, eroded, clayish road. Walked under the conveyor that we could hear at Swamp Oak hut, can still hear faintly tonight. It wasn't moving when we went under it.

Funnily enough, when Andre got to camp he said that he missed the same turn that we nearly missed just after morning tea: wouldn't be surprised if lots of people miss that turn which is on a slippery downhill part?

Sandi wrote:

Really enjoyed the old bridge and the Murray was surprisingly wide. Went under bridge for lunch and actually found a dry spot to sit: very impressed I was. Also a bin at the rest area there, so got rid of the current rubbish. A nice patch of Leschenautia at the turn off. Saw a car go by: very strange feeling, it's so remote out here. I guess cars used to go across the bridge: pretty amazing thought though underneath it's very impressively made.

Perry wrote:

Had lunch under the bridge -- a real blast -> but we may have been a little cold to really enjoy it (those rotten rain jackets that do the opposite meant we were quite damp and needing to keep moving to stay warm).

After lunch and disposing of our rubbish in a welcome rubbish bin, the Track climbs a small hill through a narrow gully then under the conveyor, which had mysteriously stopped when we were on the hill above the bridge (we weren't displeased, as it would probably normally be quite noisy).

The bush after climbing out of the Murray River valley had been recently burnt, and relatively level until the descent to Bell Brook, where we finally removed our wet weather gear as the sun had come out. Bell Brook really was lovely, and we should have stopped for a break to soak up the peace, but decided to push on whilst it was still dry.

Sandi wrote:

P spotted a cat, we presume feral, about a km from the hut. Very big and healthy looking.

Sandi wrote:

Opossum creek is very pretty. Nice to see some Wandoo again. Lots of pink orchids today and another of the little odd looking double headed ones we saw yesterday.

All the creeks have lots of water and are bustling along at a great rate. Reminds me of what I imagine spring is like with snow melting.

Perry wrote:

Very weary getting to camp -- our good walking times are evidence that I didn't stop often for photos!

I've been very gentle on the batteries today -- camera finished on 2 bars, but the GPS batteries (that were swapped out in the first 15 minutes) ran out in camp (so definitely not full).

Perry wrote:

Well that was a harder day than what I was thinking -- the morning hills were quite steep and the road slippery. We walked it quite well.

The afternoon was much easier walking. Funnily the conveyor turned off when we started to enter the valley and started up again after we left (Maintenance? Lunch?).

Possum Springs			S	P	A	T
	Soup	Beef & Noodle	2.5	3.5	3.0	3.4
	Meal	Bobotie	4.5	4	4.3	3.8

Sandi wrote:

Was thinking in the night how we'd planned the trip and it was just about the 2 of us, but in fact how various people needing some form of help can appear. Andre's feet were blistered so I gave him some hyperfix and comfeel. All been a lot of food for thought.

Another night in a shelter with Andre, who is warning us that he'll be making a pre-dawn departure on his quest to get to Walpole by his Mother's birthday. We'll be content to bounce along (as my dear Father-in-Law would say) and enjoy what we're given each day.

	Distance			Time		Hours			Speed
	Section	Daily	Total	Arrive	Depart	H:M	Daily	Total	Km/h	Daily	Total
Dookanelly Campsite	0.0				8:46 AM	0:00			0.0
Harvey Quindanning Road	11.2	11.2	277.3	12:22 PM		3:36	3:36	82.8	3.1	3.1	3.4
Bell Brook	3.8	14.9	281.1	1:52 PM		1:30	5:06	84.3	2.5	2.9	3.3
Possum Springs Campsite	4.8	19.7	285.9	3:12 PM		1:20	6:26	85.6	3.6	3.1	3.3

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